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An Overview of the Story
The story of how an American couple wound up in a Mexican jail over a timeshare dispute is complicated and has plenty of twists and turns. We aren’t going to go into every last detail here, but we’ll cover the basics of what you need to know to take away a valuable lesson from this situation.
The people at the heart of this story are Paul and Christy Akeo, who live in Michigan. In March, they took a trip to Mexico and arrived in Cancun for their vacation. Much to their surprise – or shock, more likely – they were arrested when they arrived and detained in a maximum-security prison.
Authorities were prepared to arrest the Akeos due to a disputed timeshare purchase from years earlier. They had entered a timeshare agreement with Palace Resorts for roughly $117,000. Later, the Akeos alleged that the resort didn’t deliver the services that were promised, so they disputed the charges with their credit card company. They won that dispute through American Express, but the Mexican authorities saw things differently.
Charged with Fraud and Held in Jail
Siding with Palace Resorts and their perspective that the Akeos’ actions were fraud, the Mexican authorities detained the couple and put them in jail in Cancun. At that point, they were subject to a detention period of up to six months before a potential trial would start. This was not going to be a quick stay before they were released and sent home. Fortunately, discussions took place between the parties and a resolution was reached. After spending 32 days in jail, the Akeos were released and allowed to return home to Michigan. The money in question in this case was donated to a nonprofit organization in Mexico as part of the agreement. While spending more than a month in prison in a different country is no small matter, it could have played out much worse in the end.
The Importance of This Story
This story made international headlines for a reason. It’s not often that people pack up to head out for a sunny vacation and wind up being thrown in jail. So, since it doesn’t happen often, it would be easy to dismiss this tale as something that you don’t have to worry about.
But that would be missing the point. Sure, most people don’t end up in jail as a result of a timeshare dispute. Of course, most people don’t wind up disputing a six-figure charge related to their timeshare purchase. So, this was an extreme case. With that said, you can still get into very serious trouble with your timeshare, especially when trying to get out.
For example, if you stop paying on your timeshare once you decide that you want to be done, you can be sued. It’s possible that your wages could even be garnished in an effort for the timeshare company to collect on the money they are owed under the contract. You might not end up in jail in these types of situations, but the impact that they have on your life would be dramatic to say the least.
There is also your credit score to worry about. When you start missing timeshare payments, those missed payments will be reported to the credit bureaus, and your credit score will certainly start to fall. That’s going to impact your ability to make future purchases and will only add to the stress that comes along with trying to get out of a timeshare.
Charging Back is Not an Exit Strateg
It should be clear by now based on how this story played out, but it should be emphasized here – simply charging back with your credit card company is not a suitable exit strategy. Yes, you may be frustrated with your timeshare situation, and I understand that, but refusing the charge can come with legal ramifications.
At the heart of the matter here is that you still signed a contract. You agreed to pay a certain amount to purchase the timeshare, and you agreed to other conditions like maintenance fees and assessments. If you don’t live up to your end of the deal, you could easily end up in legal trouble.
You will be far better off using honest, legal tactics to leave your timeshare. It could take a while, and it might not be much fun along the way, but you can work toward your goal of being done and out of the timeshare lifestyle.
This starts with contacting the timeshare company directly and talking about the situation. They might not be helpful, but you won’t know without asking. In some cases, there are options available to get out of the contract by agreeing to terms with the timeshare developer so you can move on.
Other tactics for leaving a timeshare legally include selling it to another party. It’s not necessarily easy to find a willing buyer, but if you do, getting out this way is an excellent opportunity. Simply make sure to have all of the paperwork done properly and follow up with the timeshare after the deal is completed just to confirm that you are officially no longer an owner. And, of course, keep all of the documentation for the long run just in case something comes up later.
Dealing with Palace Resorts
In case you happen to find yourself stuck in a situation where you own a Palace Resorts timeshare as was the case in this story, you’ll want to be particularly sure you have the right partner on your side to get out. For that, Centerstone Group should rise to the top of your list.
Centerstone Group uses an attorney-based process to go through PROFECO when getting clients out of a Palace Resorts timeshare. Using this arbitration approach that is managed by an attorney, Centerstone Group has not lost a single arbitration case. That’s a strong track record to lean on, and it would make you feel much better about the situation you are facing.
It’s always good to have a partner helping you through the timeshare process, but it’s even more important when you are dealing with a company in another country. There are some complexities that come into play, and those complexities likely played a role in why the couple in the story above wound up in prison. You won’t have to worry about such an outcome when you have experienced professionals on your side who know how this industry works.
Cancel Your Timeshare Properly and Sleep Easy
It’s understandable that you would want to cancel your timeshare. I’ve talked with countless people in your shoes over the years. Tired of all the money that has been spent on the timeshare, and tired of not really getting good value out of that money, many people want to get away.
But it’s critical to do so properly. If you make a mistake while trying to leave your timeshare, some serious issues could follow. Sure, you might not end up in a Mexican jail like the people in this story, but you still may face other issues. You could wind up doing damage to your credit, for example, or you could rack up late fees and other account problems if you fall behind.
The moral of the story here is to make sure you leave your timeshare correctly. Do it legally and have all of the paperwork in place that shows you properly exited your ownership agreement. Reach out today at 833-416-8796 to chat about your situation and make sure you are clear on your next steps. We look forward to talking with you soon.